EDU Sales Account Executive

Posted 17 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
San Francisco, CA
148K-175K Annually
1-3 Years Experience
Edtech • Enterprise Web • HR Tech • Software
Handshake is the number one site for college students to find a job.
The Role
As an Education Sales Account Executive at Handshake, you will be responsible for growing market leadership with a focus on Community Colleges in the U.S. You will learn the Handshake product, generate sales opportunities, conduct demos and discovery calls, build relationships with higher education leaders, and collaborate with various teams to increase sales velocity and improve the student experience.
Summary Generated by Built In

Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.


Handshake is hiring a Education Sales Account Executive, reporting to the Manager of Education Sales.

As a key member of the Education Sales team, you’ll help Handshake continue to grow our market leadership in the United States, with a particular focus on Community Colleges. In the first 1-2 months on the job you’ll learn the Handshake product and sales motion by getting hands-on with both outbound and inbound sales activities and leading demos and discovery calls with prospects. The goal and expectation is that you will rapidly ramp into taking on your own book of business of 2-year schools to add to the Handshake network. In addition to working on a close-knit Sales team, you will also have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues on Marketing, Ops, Product and Success to increase sales velocity, reduce friction and improve hand-offs. 

Handshake’s unique position as the best place for anyone to start, jumpstart or restart their career is built on the success of our Education Partnerships team. This role will be instrumental in adding more schools and organizations to the Handshake network and shaping the early talent experience for millions of students. 


  • In first 1-2 months: Master the Handshake EDU product and full-cycle sales motion by:

    • Shadowing colleagues on Sales, Success, Ops and Marketing to learn the Handshake product and sale inside and out, create their own demo script and become demo certified

    • Generating quality top of funnel opportunities, particularly with Community Colleges, by executing both outbound and inbound sales activities including cold calls, email and LinkedIn campaigns, hosting webinars, and collaborating on content and social media marketing 

    • Leading in-person and virtual demos and discovery calls with interested prospects and representing Handshake at relevant conferences

  • In month 2 and beyond: Grow our market leadership with Community Colleges in the U.S. by running your own book of business:

    • Building close relationships with higher education leaders in the 2-year space and becoming an expert and trusted thought partner on career services, workforce development and early talent

    • Leading demo and onsite meetings, responding to RFPs and managing procurement processes to sign schools up for Handshake

    • Project-managing regional, system and state-wide opportunities from evaluation to close, so that multiple schools join the network at once

  • Collaborate with other members of the EDU Sales, Ops and Marketing teams to build our brand as a thought leader and innovator in higher education and early talent

  • Bring positive and constructive feedback to our Product teams in terms of what school prospects are looking for

  • Partner closely with our Customer Success team to ensure a smooth handoff, successful implementation and virtuous cycle of school champions referring their colleagues and networks to Handshake

  • This role requires travel to onsites and demos with prospects, conferences and other Handshake events. You should expect at least 25% of your time to be travel, with additional variance based on seasonality and business need.


  • At least 2+ years of full-cycle sales experience in enterprise SaaS, edtech, or selling into higher education 

  • Proven track record of quota attainment on a high-performing team

  • Willingness to execute a high volume of outbound sales activities every day while exhibiting a positive attitude and growth mindset

  • Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with specific experience and ability in leading sales conversations and meetings virtually (i.e. over phone and Zoom)

  • Strong proficiency with Salesforce, Excel and relevant productivity and BI tools (i.e. Gong, Mixmax, Looker)

  • Thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment - you are organized, entrepreneurial, and run towards problems

  • Ability to be flexible and agile in responding to evolving business priorities and operating within ambiguity

  • Values working with a diverse team and maintaining consistent communication with multiple internal constituencies

  • $148k to $175k  60/40 Split

About us

Handshake is the #1 place to launch a career with no connections, experience, or luck required. The platform connects up-and-coming talent with 750,000+ employers - from Fortune 500 companies like Google, Nike, and Target to thousands of public school districts, healthcare systems, and nonprofits. In 2022 we announced our $200M Series F funding round. This Series F fundraise and valuation of $3.5B will fuel Handshake’s next phase of growth and propel our mission to help more people start, restart, and jumpstart their careers.

When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look at Handshake. With our hybrid-work model, employees benefit from collaboration and shared team experiences three days per week in our vibrant offices, and enjoy the flexibility of remote work two days per week. Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, London, and Berlin.

What we offer

At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

  • 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
  • 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
  • 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
  • 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
  • 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
  • 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
  • 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
  • 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
  • 🥗 Free lunch provided twice a week across all offices.
  • 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.

  • 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
  • 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 8 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
  • 🍼 Lactation support: Handshake partners with Milk Stork to provide a comprehensive 100% employer-sponsored lactation support to traveling parents and guardians.

  • 🏦 Pension Scheme: Handshake will provide you with a workplace pension, where you will make contributions based on 5% of your salary. Handshake will pay the equivalent of 3% towards your pension plan, subject to qualifying earnings limits.
  • 🏝 Up to 25 days of vacation to encourage people to reset, recharge, and refresh, in addition to 8 bank holidays throughout the year.
  • 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco.
  • 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake UK employees.

  • 🏝 25 days of annual leave + 5 days of a winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off across the company.
  • 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco once a year.
  • 🧘 Urban sports club membership offering access to a diverse network of fitness and wellness facilities.
  • 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake Germany employees.

Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.

Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at [email protected].

The Company
San Francisco, CA
700 Employees
Hybrid Workplace
Year Founded: 2014

What We Do

Handshake is the #1 place to launch a career with no connections, experience, or luck required. The platform connects up-and-coming talent with 650,000+ employers - from Fortune 500 companies like Google, Nike, and Target to thousands of public school districts, healthcare systems, and nonprofits. Earlier this year, we announced our $200M Series F funding round. This Series F fundraise and new valuation of $3.5B will fuel Handshake’s next phase of growth and propel our mission to help more people start, restart, and jumpstart their careers.

Why Work With Us

How someone builds their career is foundational. We believe in working with the higher education community to help students build meaningful careers. We are at the nexus of universities, students and employers— and we’re able to connect the very best pieces of each side. We’re proud to create a community where students can be more successful.

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